Two Reasons to Build a Spring Hill Hospital

Below is a fantastic letter that I think needs it's own thread. Enjoy

Two reasons to build Spring Hill hospital: Growth, community

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Columbia Daily Herald

It has been several weeks since Spring Hill announced intentions to bring a hospital to our city.

There have been many news stories and letters, yet many neglect simple facts about our city, growth, economics, community, and the value of nearby hospital care.

There are few communities in America growing as rapidly as Spring Hill. Some opponents compare Spring Hill with Mt. Pleasant, Hampshire, Culleoka, and Santa Fe and wonder what would happen if they asked for hospitals, too. While these are fine towns and reflect some growth, the population of these communities is not even close to Spring Hill.

Spring Hill is no longer the small rural community it was just a few years ago. Cities of our size (expected growth is to 45,000 by 2010, far larger than Columbia) require full services for its citizens. That means not only restaurants and shopping centers, dentists and doctors, but hospitals, too!

As Spring Hill continues to carry an increasing load of the tax burden for Maury County, including county property and sales taxes, it is amazing to me that any Maury citizen would oppose a hospital that brings improved tax revenues and jobs to our area.

Yet while the economic benefits a new hospital brings will be great for Spring Hill and Maury County, hospital also means community. Presently we have to go 15 miles north or south to get to a hospital. These hospitals are quality institutions, but they are not really a part of our community. Most early hospitals in America were built by churches, because churches recognized that communities needed not just nearby spiritual care but nearby medical care. Hospitals build community by allowing citizens to be close to home and family in difficult times. And with 21 percent (an astounding figure) of Spring Hill age 10 and under, we want families to be close to the many children and grandchildren we have — not 15 miles away!

Maury and Williamson citizens have an opportunity to get a picture of what our new Spring Hill hospital will be like. On Thursday, June 8, buses will leave from Spring Hill City Hall at 10 a.m. for a visit to StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna. The trip is free, lunch is provided, and the buses will return by 2:30. To reserve a place, call (615) 342-1919 or (800) 242-5662. Deadline for reservations is Monday, June 5.

David E. Huebner, Spring Hill